Who said Harry Potter was a passing fad?

[Toad_Passenger]

There have been several threads in these forums that would dispute what you say -- here's just one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2219505&highlight=harry+potter

I'm just not sure why people have to take WDW's side so much that they ignore common sense. for example, I'm no longer fascinated by Peter Pan, but I do the ride several times on each trip.

I love going to WDW, but I will also love going to WWHP.

What common sense are people ignoring? I said before that my DW and I are HUGE HP fans. We've been fans since Book 2 hit the U.S. back in 1999(?), have purchased plenty of merchandise, and have even knitted our own scarves and sweaters!

That being said, we see that nothing from these previews to assume we would need anymore than part of a day to "do" WWHP. As I said we're excited to go, and are already planning to be there shortly after the Grand Opening, but we'll add an extra day to our stay on WDW-Property, go see WWHP and return back to WDW in time for Dinner and maybe hit the parks in the evening.

I don't think anyone is taking WDW's side, but just pointing out that WWHP is, in fact, just 1 spoke in a very large Universal "wheel." I really wish they would have, instead, gone with a full fledged HP park in England/Scotland.

 

[kmk1180]

There have been several threads in these forums that would dispute what you say -- here's just one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2219505&highlight=harry+potter

I'm just not sure why people have to take WDW's side so much that they ignore common sense. for example, I'm no longer fascinated by Peter Pan, but I do the ride several times on each trip.

I love going to WDW, but I will also love going to WWHP.

You can dispute all you want but it's a fact that WWHP is just 1 section of 1 park.
There is not HP theme park. There is no HP resort. I suspect there will be something HP to eat but that will be in the HP section. So There will not be a HP dinner to go to outside the section.
Your NOT being immersed in HP.
And fan or not...vast majority of people will visit HP on the side of their WDW vacation.
You prove it your self.. You put WDW first in your statement.
HP wil be a secondary attraction. A big one but a secondary with about as much impact on Disney as SeaWorld.
Popular sure..but nothing Disney will change their business model on.
You can make all the claims you want but history proves, US, SeaWorld and everyone else reacts to Disney, not the other way around.
Just the fact US is IN Orlando, that they felt the need to build a second park, City Walk Copied Downtown Disney...all prove that.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Yes, you're right. Unlike every other major corporation on earth, Disney completely ignores its competition and dances to its own tunes.

How about we meet up back here in 2 years and see?

Alas - see that dead horse over in the corner.....the Kool Aider's have surrounded it by now.....beating away.

Don't you know already......"Yee Say NOT Against the Loving and Beloved Lord of All Things Perfect.....Disney". <--- even it it hints at the truth!!

Universal has specifically kept HP constuction under wraps. They have even gone as far as to tent construction behind the walls so no one will see.

As I said before....I'm curious to see the buzz when they start promoting HP land.

Meet back then for a review?

 

[Metro West]

You can make all the claims you want but history proves, US, SeaWorld and everyone else reacts to Disney, not the other way around.

Whoever raises their parking rates and/or ticket prices first will cause the other parks to follow suit. Now if this rumored Disney ticket increase does happen on 8/1, then expect Universal and Sea World to do the same thing. So it is possible for Disney to react to others if Universal or Sea World would raise their prices first. That's a small example for sure but Disney does follow others and not always in a good way.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm just not sure why people have to take WDW's side so much that they ignore common sense. for example, I'm no longer fascinated by Peter Pan, but I do the ride several times on each trip.

To me it's a question of what sort of innate attraction the franchise has to you as a customer. Is Peter Pan what draws you to the Disney parks?

Similarly is HP going to change any long-term vacation habits for those visiting the Orlando area? A previous poster suggested a 5/2 split between folks visiting Disney and Universal (5 days at Disney, 2 at Universal.) That's quite a bit more generous than I would have suggested (toward Universal), nevertheless the inference was that WWHP would tip the balance more toward 4 days Disney and 3 Universal. That's the major piece of the discussion I simply don't buy. Everything I have read about WWHP suggests that it's a 1-2 hour diversion. While it may be quite well-designed, it's nothing that would take even half a day to explore.

Is that scale of attraction going to impact folks' Disney travel plans? How about in 2015? 2020?

Alas - see that dead horse over in the corner.....the Kool Aider's have surrounded it by now.....beating away.

Don't you know already......"Yee Say NOT Against the Loving and Beloved Lord of All Things Perfect.....Disney". <--- even it it hints at the truth!!

Ah, yes...the last gasp of the desperate: name-calling. Now we're all just Kool-Aid drinking sycophants.

Still haven't seen anything which remotely suggests that $200M in box office receipts means HP will still be relevant in 2019. Perhaps Disney is in negotiations now to license the Godfather, Planet of the Apes and Pink Panther film franchises.

 

[Metro West]

Similarly is HP going to change any long-term vacation habits for those visiting the Orlando area? A previous poster suggested a 5/2 split between folks visiting Disney and Universal (5 days at Disney, 2 at Universal.) That's quite a bit more generous than I would have suggested (toward Universal), nevertheless the inference was that WWHP would tip the balance more toward 4 days Disney and 3 Universal. That's the major piece of the discussion I simply don't buy. Everything I have read about WWHP suggests that it's a 1-2 hour diversion. While it may be quite well-designed, it's nothing that would take even half a day to explore.

All this 1-2 hour "diversion" talk makes me think some posters assume people will pay whatever the going gate price is to walk all the way around past Seuss Landing and The Lost Continent to HP land...explore that area and then leave. I think it's reasonable to think some of these people will actually look around and heaven forbid...actually ride something outside of HP land! Imagine that.

 

[tjkraz]

All this 1-2 hour "diversion" talk makes me think some posters assume people will pay whatever the going gate price is to walk all the way around past Seuss Landing and The Lost Continent to HP land...explore that area and then leave. I think it's reasonable to think some of these people will actually look around and heaven forbid...actually ride something outside of HP land! Imagine that.

Sure they will. But a previous poster suggested that people are already spending 2 days of their vacation at US/IOA, yet will extend that to 3 days after HP.

What is so compelling about WWHP that will prompt folks extend their trips? Re-themed Dueling Dragons? Re-themed Flying Unicorn?

 

[Metro West]

Sure they will. But a previous poster suggested that people are already spending 2 days of their vacation at US/IOA, yet will extend that to 3 days after HP.

What is so compelling about WWHP that will prompt folks extend their trips? Re-themed Dueling Dragons? Re-themed Flying Unicorn?

Maybe it's not just that WWHP will be appealing...perhaps they might actually like Universal and the onsite hotels. Since Universal isn't as big as WDW, there is no need to rush around trying to see everything. Sometimes being bigger isn't always better. The bottom line is this...no one on this board or anywhere else for that matter knows how WWHP will perform...either short term or long term. I hope it does well but I'm not getting into all this chatter about Disney's attendance going down the drain because of the new section.

I live here and go to both resorts all the time. So as long as you tourists continue to come down and spend your money somewhere and I don't have to pay state income or car tax, I'm happy.

 

[tjkraz]

BTW, Universal attendance in the 2nd quarter dropped by double digits from '08 to '09. That drop was in spite of boost from Easter being in the 2nd Q 2009 vs 1st Q 2007.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-nbc-universal-parks-072009,0,7019470.story

Yet they still managed to increase profits due to "strong cost control." I hope I'm not the only supposed "kool aid drinker" who hopes Disney doesn't follow that lead. TWDC may have initiated some cuts earlier this year, but they absorbed a major loss in profitability while doing so.

 

[SassyCat]

I'm not really sure how you can compare spending an afternoon or evening around $10 a person to see a 2 1/2 hour movie near your house to spending hundreds to a possible couple of thousands of dollars to travel (by airplane or car) to another part of the country, to pay for a hotel room, to take days off work, to take children out of school, to pay for meals, to pay for park tickets, etc. I really doubt a huge percentage of people who go to see the harry potter movie are going to be able to make it to the park. Sure, the movies and books are insanely popular, but I don't think the necessarily means there will be a HUGE crossover of these fans at home crossing over to the parks.

I'm sure the HP section will bring in a lot of people to US. I'm sure a lot of locals or other Fl residents who can easily make the trip will come to see it. I just don't really see a HUGE pop of people coming from across the country and from other countries coming to see JUST HP part of US. I'm sure it will just cause a lot more split stays.

After a couple of years of being open, I don't really see HP land drawing in huge numbers. To me (and I'm a big HP fan - read all the books, seen all the movies, have souvies, dressed up as hermione one year while hubby was voldemort hehe), I would like to see it, but I don't think it is something I will be drawn back to it tons of times. I really can't stand US, and while I do like IoA better one trip was pretty much enough for me. There was nothing there I personally wanted to do again (except for the spiderman ride but that was not enough to bring me back again). For me, going off property is more of a hassle than something I enjoy.

To sum up, I know HP land will be hugely popular for a while, but I don't really think it is going to have much of an impact on disney in the long run. I don't particularly think it is going to have a huge impact in the short run either, but I do believe it is possible.

 

[Rip]

Alas - see that dead horse over in the corner.....the Kool Aider's have surrounded it by now.....beating away.

Don't you know already......"Yee Say NOT Against the Loving and Beloved Lord of All Things Perfect.....Disney". <--- even it it hints at the truth!!

Universal has specifically kept HP constuction under wraps. They have even gone as far as to tent construction behind the walls so no one will see.

As I said before....I'm curious to see the buzz when they start promoting HP land.

Meet back then for a review?

Deal. I'm hoping it's open for Oct. 2010 for our yearly trip to HHN.

 

[kmk1180]

, dressed up as hermione one year while hubby was voldemort hehe),

Wow, does WWHP come with memory erasing potions so I can forget the mental image I just had implanted in my mind.

 

[Rip]

You can dispute all you want but it's a fact that WWHP is just 1 section of 1 park.
There is not HP theme park. There is no HP resort. I suspect there will be something HP to eat but that will be in the HP section. So There will not be a HP dinner to go to outside the section.
Your NOT being immersed in HP.
And fan or not...vast majority of people will visit HP on the side of their WDW vacation.
You prove it your self.. You put WDW first in your statement.
HP wil be a secondary attraction. A big one but a secondary with about as much impact on Disney as SeaWorld.
Popular sure..but nothing Disney will change their business model on.
You can make all the claims you want but history proves, US, SeaWorld and everyone else reacts to Disney, not the other way around.
Just the fact US is IN Orlando, that they felt the need to build a second park, City Walk Copied Downtown Disney...all prove that.

Well, the original City Walk predates PI by 5 years. In reality, that's exactly where Disney got the idea and they wanted to get to Orlando before Universal could.

So you were saying?

 

[Rip]

Sure they will. But a previous poster suggested that people are already spending 2 days of their vacation at US/IOA, yet will extend that to 3 days after HP.

What is so compelling about WWHP that will prompt folks extend their trips? Re-themed Dueling Dragons? Re-themed Flying Unicorn?

Ugh, said previous poster used an example to illustrate a point. Apparently that went right over your head.

Please continue to harp on 2 specific trees whilst ignoring the forest around you.

 

[kmk1180]

Ugh, said previous poster used an example to illustrate a point. Apparently that went right over your head.

Please continue to harp on 2 specific trees whilst ignoring the forest around you.

gee sorry I had the years wrong..my bad...
did US also come to Orlando before Disney? Or did they Respond to what Disney was doing?
What about a second park? Did they open a second first or did they RESPOND to what Disney was doing?

I think your the one who has their head in the sand here.
US has never succeed in stealing away the Disney crowd.
or bettering them in Customer Service or guest satisfaction.
You can point to any "thread" or rumor website you want...the proof is in the history and experts Opinoins.
Disney is still the gold standard for ammusement park industry.

But I surrender. You win!. Clearly you can see the future but I admit I can't.
You clearly think HP is the greatest thing to theme parks ever and believe the rest of the world will agree.
We can all forget the decades of proof that tells us otherwise.
I'm tired and quite frankly BORED of this. It was fun and funny for a while but now it's just boring.

But your intitled to your opinion and I'll keep mine. In five years we'll see if people are saying "Mickey" who or "Harry" who.

 

[SassyCat]

Wow, does WWHP come with memory erasing potions so I can forget the mental image I just had implanted in my mind.

It was for halloween one year! I meant to put that!

 

[kmk1180]

Well, the original City Walk predates PI by 5 years. In reality, that's exactly where Disney got the idea and they wanted to get to Orlando before Universal could.

So you were saying?

Ok I know I said i was out of this arguement but I couldn't help but wonder about your comment here.

I remember going to Pleasure island in 1994.
And also went to Universal Studios that year but don't remember City Walk being there.

So I looked it up....
I got the dates wrong? Really?
According to Wikipedia....
Pleasure Island officially opened May 1, 1989.
The Universal CityWalk Hollywood opened in May 1993 adjacent to the isolated Cineplex Odeon cinema

Looks like US was 4 years AFTER Disney...so again your facts don't hold up your arguement..

That cleared up...I'll still leave and believe HP will be popular at first then after the initial rush be as popular as Jurassic Park.

 

[Rip]

Ok I know I said i was out of this arguement but I couldn't help but wonder about your comment here.

I remember going to Pleasure island in 1994.
And also went to Universal Studios that year but don't remember City Walk being there.

So I looked it up....
I got the dates wrong? Really?
According to Wikipedia....
Pleasure Island officially opened May 1, 1989.
The Universal CityWalk Hollywood opened in May 1993 adjacent to the isolated Cineplex Odeon cinema

Looks like US was 4 years AFTER Disney...so again your facts don't hold up your arguement..

That cleared up...I'll still leave and believe HP will be popular at first then after the initial rush be as popular as Jurassic Park.

Which is why you need to read what I said before you type. I said the original CityWalk predates PI by 5 years, and that Disney got the idea for PI from that and wanted to have it in Orlando before US built one there.

So now that we've got that cleared up, is there anything else I can help you with? Your assertion that Disney never follows its competitors is just flat out false, but then any major corporation that doesn't learn from its competition isn't going to make in the long run, and Disney didn't get to the level it is by being economically ignorant.

BTW, guess where Disney got many of its idea for Disney's California Adventure?




Alsoplustoo, Wiki isn't the most reliable source for information, as you yourself could have edited the entry you're quoting.

wdwinfo is a little more accurate:

While CityWalk was derided by some Disney fans as a rip off of Pleasure Island, the fact is that the original CityWalk at Universal Hollywood pre-dates Pleasure Island by more than 5 years. It was Disney that ‘borrowed’ the concept from Universal, not the other


http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/universal-studios-florida/History-of-universal-orlando.htm

 

[kmk1180]

Which is why you need to read what I said before you type. I said the original CityWalk predates PI by 5 years, and that Disney got the idea for PI from that and wanted to have it in Orlando before US built one there.

Well I guess you need to inform me..because Orlando's City Walk was clearly after Disney's PI. Unless you think a "Isolated Movie Complex" counts.
And I don't see US Hollywood has one much less one that predates 1993.
So what do you consider "original City walk" if your not counting the one that opened in 1993 4 years after PI.

 

[Rip]

gee sorry I had the years wrong..my bad...
did US also come to Orlando before Disney? Or did they Respond to what Disney was doing?
What about a second park? Did they open a second first or did they RESPOND to what Disney was doing?

I think your the one who has their head in the sand here.
US has never succeed in stealing away the Disney crowd.
or bettering them in Customer Service or guest satisfaction.
You can point to any "thread" or rumor website you want...the proof is in the history and experts Opinoins.
Disney is still the gold standard for ammusement park industry.

But I surrender. You win!. Clearly you can see the future but I admit I can't.
You clearly think HP is the greatest thing to theme parks ever and believe the rest of the world will agree.
We can all forget the decades of proof that tells us otherwise.
I'm tired and quite frankly BORED of this. It was fun and funny for a while but now it's just boring.

But your intitled to your opinion and I'll keep mine. In five years we'll see if people are saying "Mickey" who or "Harry" who.

Drama much? I never said anything remotely resembling most of this nonsense.